Helena, AL vs Ruston, LA
Side-by-side comparison of housing, income, commute, safety, and quality of life.
Score Snapshot
No universal winner
Scores summarize the published model. Use the objective metric differences below and your own priorities to choose.
Helena
74.5
#582 nationally
Ruston
72.3
#911 nationally
Helena leads in crime level (2.0 vs 11.7). Helena leads in median household income ($107,360 vs $32,877). Ruston leads in average commute (13.9 min vs 30.4 min).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Helena, AL | Ruston, LA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 74.5 (#582) | 72.3 (#911) |
| Population | 22,117 | 22,233 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $367,018 | $229,937 |
| Median Household Income | $107,360 | $32,877 |
| Average Commute | 30.4 min | 13.9 min |
| Walk Score | 12 | 25 |
| Crime Level | 2.0 | 11.7 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 101 | 95 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | R+40.8 | R+25.4 |
C
74.5 Score
Helena, AL
Small Alabama city with local appeal
Median Home
$367,018
Population
22,117
Crime
Low
Walk Score
12
Southeast
View Helena, AL →
C-
72.3 Score
Ruston, LA
Small Louisiana city with local appeal
Median Home
$229,937
Population
22,233
Crime
Moderate-High
Walk Score
25
Southeast
View Ruston, LA →